From the 1960s onwards and especially after Kenya achieved independence, the practice was discontinued to give way to one chief for the entire area.
Most of the business activities are done on the Kaloleni side owing to the shift of transport preference to Mombasa-Nairobi Highway rather than the rail line and station.
These include the Mariakani High school, the Kwale-Kilifi Milk Scheme Cooperative of the 1960s, slaughter houses among others.
Its population is dominantly Durumas and Coastal Kambas, the descendants of the explorers' scouts and long-distance traders.
Mariakani (Kilifi county side) hosts a town council with a population of 67,984, of whom 10,987 are classified urban (1999 census [2]).